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9 June 2014

UNWTO Executive Council: Tourism routes key to regional integration and developmentThe 98th session of the UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Spain highlighted the role of tourism routes in promoting regional integration and development. The Council further debated key factors to stimulate tourism growth such as visa facilitation and air connectivity while recalling the role the tourism sector can play in the sustainable development agenda (Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 5-6 June 2014).

UNWTO, UNODC and African Tourism Ministers to join forces to fight wildlife crimeUNWTO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and African Tourism Ministers have committed to advancing the tourism sector’s support in the global fight against the surge in poaching that is threatening one of Africa’s main tourism resources - its unique wildlife and biodiversity. (ITB Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2014).

5 March 2014

UNWTO, UNODC and UNESCO launch anti-trafficking campaignThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have joined forces to promote a global campaign urging travellers to support the fight against a number of forms of trafficking. The Campaign was presented to the tourism sector at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin (5 March 2014).

11 February 2014

UNWTO contributes to Korean presidential debate on new tourism planChairing the Tourism Promotion Meeting in Seoul, the President of the Republic of Korea, Park Geun-hye, unveiled plans to advance tourism promotion by boosting ‘smart tourism’, encouraging more nationals to travel and promoting capacity building in support of job creation. UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, addressed the Meeting and underscored the country’s lead in connecting state-of-the-art tourism initiatives with the sector’s potential to face poverty challenges and provide development opportunities (3 February 2014, Seoul, Republic of Korea).

20 January 2014

International tourism exceeds expectations with arrivals up by 52 million in 2013International tourist arrivals grew by 5% in 2013, reaching a record 1,087 million arrivals, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Despite global economic challenges, international tourism results were well above expectations, with an additional 52 million international tourists travelling the world in 2013. For 2014, UNWTO forecasts 4% to 4.5% growth - again, above the long term projections.

16 January 2014

UNWTO activities at FITUR 2014The presentation of the 2013 UNWTO Awards, a Ministerial Debate on the future of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa and a business-to-business event connecting African tourism companies with Spanish and Portuguese counterparts are among the many UNWTO activities planned for the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain, 22-26 January 2014).

3 January 2014

UN General Assembly: Tourism can foster sustainable development in Central AmericaSustainable tourism is an ally of poverty eradication in Central America and the three dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental - as reflected in the UN resolution on "Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America". The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the resolution unanimously during its 68th session. This represents an important step towards mainstreaming sustainable tourism in the international development agenda and the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (New York, USA, 22 December 2013).